Police Investigate Threats at Multiple Harford County Schools

As you may be aware, there have been a number of threats reported throughout our school system. We have been working with the Department of Safety and Security and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies to determine there is no valid or supporting evidence found to indicate any credible threat.

School safety is our utmost priority and the members of the administrative teams and security staff will continue to be vigilant in maintaining the safety of Harford County Public Schools. A letter from the Superintendent has been placed on the HCPS website and on each school EdLine page addressing safety in our schools.

Please know that we take all reports and threats seriously and has been our practice, will continue to work cooperatively with public safety and other agencies to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

We need your help to stem the spread of unfounded rumors by talking with your child about responsible social media use, as rumors originate and perpetuate in that forum and can cause undue stress on the school community. The misuse of social media may result in school discipline and serious legal consequences.

Under no circumstances will HCPS tolerate anyone creating a climate of fear for our students, families, and staff. Together we can help keep our schools a safe and comfortable learning environment for our children.

Thank you.

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

Earlier this evening, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office became aware of the possibility of a threat made by a student against Harford Technical High School. Our investigators thoroughly evaluated the statements that were made, as well as interviewed the student and their family, and at this time, have deemed the threats to be unfounded. Students can anticipate seeing an increased police presence tomorrow morning out of an abundance of caution. We thank everyone who called in information and encourage community members to continue to follow the advice of “see something say something”.

From the Bel Air Police Department:

The Bel Air Police Department, Harford County Public Schools, and supporting agencies are aware of the recent indirect threat to Bel Air High School posted to social media. At this time there is no credible or viable information supporting this threat to our school. There have been several indirect threats on social media referencing other schools in the area as well. All of these threats have been investgated and are unfounded.

Out of precaution, there will be an increased presence of law enforcement officers in and around our schools in the town of Bel Air.

A message on the Harford County Public Schools website:

Dear Harford County Public Schools Community,

I know we are all devastated by the rash of school shootings, the most recent being the horrific act that took 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. These events cause us to reflect on our practices in Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). We pray that nothing like this ever occurs in our own community. Sadly, we have learned from national incidents that no school or school system can guarantee 100 percent safety of students and staff 100 percent of the time, but I want to reassure our community that safety is our number one priority. We take deliberate and intentional measures to take care of our children by maintaining safe and secure learning environments.

Each Harford County public school follows a critical incident plan which has been developed, vetted and approved by our Office of Safety and Security. The plans are well known and practiced by administrators, staff and students in the building, and provide guidelines for crisis response and prevention.

It is our expectation that the general safety and security practices listed below are followed by all stakeholders who work in or visit our schools:

* All exterior doors are to remain locked throughout the school day;

* Access to buildings is controlled. Visitors must enter the school by going through the front office, provide identification, sign in, and wear a visitor badge during their time in the building;

* Throughout the year we practice a variety of critical incident drills. You can view the “Evacuation Drills and Fire Safety” Policy via the “HCPS Procedures & Board Policies” button on our homepage, www.hcps.org;

* Our School Resource Officer (SRO) program works collaboratively with our Office of Safety and Security on a daily basis.

* There are many other aspects of our overall security program that are not seen by the general public, but which go a long way in helping make our buildings secure. We are not at liberty to discuss these aspects because they involve information we do not want to share with potential perpetrators.

We work very closely with the Harford County Sheriff’s Department and municipal law enforcement agencies to help keep schools safe and secure. We are truly grateful for the partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies.

Please be advised that we are conducting a full review of our safety and security plans as well as our training to ensure we are maximizing our efforts to prevent a tragedy.

Remember, one of our greatest resources is you. Please have conversations at home and at work to help us secure our schools. Please provide information about issues that may be brewing in your school or your community and continue to be alert and attentive students, staff and parents/guardians. We cannot know everything and we rely on you to partner with us in our efforts to keep our schools safe.

If you see something, say something.

Sincerely,

Barbara P. Canavan
Superintendent, Harford County Public Schools

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Comments

Pretty soon in all schools across America it will be like going thru airport security as each child/young adult enters school…it is todays culture & reality that these measures are not unlikely in society as we see it. Gun control is not the answer..hard to hear or believe but do your homework. Each parent be a parent and get involved and really know your children living under your roof.

All options need to be on the table period! A civil national discussion must take place. The solution will not be perfect or close to full proof, but must be comprehensive and broad in scope. I’m a gun owner and hunter, but enough is enough. All stakeholders must be willing to be part of the solution which will require all groups and individuals willingness to work together to develop a plan that will keep our kids, citizens and visitors safe even if it requires lifestyle changes and sacrifice. Americans need to rally together has we have in other times of hardship and prevail. People that say otherwise should do their homework.

Or….. how about theres not one answer for every county in the damn country! Live local. Let individual counties decide what their decision is for handling this issue. Why do they need to wait for answers from above? lol

or …. better yet let the voters decide. Screw the politicians and lobbyists. Put all the ideas on the ballot and vote for or against. Passing percentage could even be set to 60% to make sure there is enough buy-in

That’s reserved for the border…rightly so. Schools simply need protection from people wanting to drive cars into the classroom. You cannot ban cars but you can control their entry. Of course baseball bats will have to also be screened for as well as Molotov cocktails and grenades and pipe bombs. Anthrax and other biological s and arson are also dangers we must protect from them also at the entry control points. Any of the afore mentioned will face the school personal who will be required to carry a firearm if they manage to slip past the screeners.

Well, after doing a little research, I’ve concluded that the most logical course of action is to keep the current system, but increase the firearm ownership age to 21. The number of school shootings where the assailant was under 21 is staggering. It’s still not going to stop a student from grabbing a parent’s weapon and taking it to school. You just can’t prevent everything because crime isn’t preventable. You can only deter and deter isn’t preventing. https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_school_shootings,_1990-present

My question is this: if someone is willing to commit murder, which is obviously against the law, why do we think that this person will not be willing to break the law to obtain the weapon? I am not being snarky. I seriously want an answer. If we criminalize guns, won’t only criminals have guns??

Who in the “sane” stream is suggesting to “criminalize” all guns? Only wackos on the extremes want to legalize all types of guns or make illegal or as you put it “criminalize” all types of guns. That is just BS. The majority of people just want some common sense used and action taken quickly..

You won’t know that they will not break the law to acquire a gun. The fact is most of the guns used in these recent shootings have been acquired legally by purchasers under the age of 21. You will never be able to prevent all crime from happening, but you can take steps to deter the acts using proper legislation. You make an immediate action banning the sale of firearms to anyone under 21, then in 3 years you make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to own a gun. From that point on, all legal firearms will be in possession of persons 21 and over. That’s the best you can do without trashing the 2nd Amendment. I’m also for any legislation preventing those who have been diagnosed with mental illness being prohibited from owning a gun unless they have been cleared by a certified psychiatrist. What more do you want?